OTSEGO COUNTY, MI - A 36-year-old woman from California is home safe after being out in the cold and rain for almost 18 hours.

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office in Southwest Michigan received a report at approximately 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, about a woman who got lost while participating in a YouTube outdoor survival contest.

Police said she left the camp in the Pigeon River Forest to find water, and the contest hosts conducted their own search efforts when they realized she hadn’t returned.

After unsuccessful attempts to locate the woman, the contest hosts contacted 911 at 5 a.m. on Sept. 6, and a coordinated search effort was immediately initiated.

At around 10:40 a.m. Saturday, the Michigan State Police helicopter located the missing woman deep within a swampy area, police said. Gr

See Full Page